Getting ignored from the tool truck guys

[Formula]

So I started at a new dealer recently. The snap on guy comes by once in a while. Other times he parks his truck outside and waits for you to show up. Haven’t seen him much,

The Matco guy stops by every week and has yet to say hello or introduce himself. It’s either he’s making too much money and doesn’t care about another sale or he’s a terrible salesman and social dropout. Maybe it’s my resting ***** face that scares him away???

Then the MAC guy comes by really sheepishly not impressing me with anything he’s carrying in his little tote bag of tools.


Maybe if I need something I’ll just order it direct from Snap on or Matco. I’ve done it before in the past and the price is the same online as I would have got off the truck. For warranty, just ship them the broken one and they ship back a new one. Turn around time is relatively quick.

Just cut out the middleman all entirety. I’ve had some great tool dealers in the past, but lately this group isn’t getting it done. I’m not begging anyone to take my money for expensive overpriced tools, without them at least introducing themselves first. But after a month and a half that time has come and gone. He’s seen me working there banging on stuff and making noise. So this tool truck guy is dead to me. He doesn’t exist to me. It’s as easy as that.

 

[American Locomotive]

Why does purchasing tools from a person have to be a personal affair and them coming to you, begging for your patronage? Why not just walk up to the truck that you know is conviently right outside? Couple of the shops I've seen, the tool truck guys just drive up and people go out to the truck if they need something.

 

[3baygarage]

I think I would be happy to support the not pushy salesmen. At my work the truck pulls up and I see the techs go to him. Snap On seems to do well. The dealer does get off the truck too, I assume going looking for money,lol.
There can’t be anything wrong with getting on the truck and introducing yourself. Now if he snubs you on the truck then that's different,

 

[engineer2]

I used to manage a Bear Automotive training center back in the 80's. We weren't regular buyers, but no problem spending a few hundred here and there.
The Mac guy would be glad to stop by if you called him. About once a month he would stop by to say hi.
Our Snap-On guy snorted "I only sell to repair shops" and left.
We finally found another Snap-On guy who said, "Call me and I'll come over. Here's my phone and home address. If you see my truck in the driveway, the store is open".
It all depends on the person. I was told at one point in the 80's Snap On was so saturated with dealers they could do their route in one day.

 

[RivennHewn]

Just like I ignore them?

 

[Zewnten]

First shop I worked at that had the trucks show up, only one guy introduced himself to me and even though I didn't buy a lot he always treated me great. The other guys I didn't buy from because of that first interaction, even when I switched jobs to a new place and they acted like they'd never seen me before. Also explains why the guy that introduced himself to everyone was one of the top grossing dealers in his multi-state region.

Personally I like it when the tool guy announces his arrival, I'm busy and I don't have time to keep an eye out for when they show up.

 

[johnny_boy02]

You sound kind of needy. Online is probably the best route for you.
I have been happy with both MAC and Snap-On’s online shopping/customer service when ordering.

 

[xjfish]

Oh boy. Honestly I'm usually too busy to set foot on a tool truck. I do if i have time. Mac, snapon, matco dudes all stop by my bay for a checkup weekly. If you want to buy tools and they don't cater to you; screw them. Buy tools online.

 

[Fly YX]

At the place I’m at now the Snap On guy was outside when I went to get something to eat. Asked him about some tools he hands me a screwdriver with the owners contact information so I called the number and it was disconnected. If I need something from them I will either go to the hanger and talk to my old snap on dealer or get it off eBay.

 

[Mikeske]

I spent my entire career working with tools and for over the last 30 years of the time never even bothered stepping inside a tool truck. I was a cash and carry mechanic. In todays world who really needs the tool truck with all the online resources and locally at the big box and tool stores.

 

[Xcursion88]

So I started at a new dealer recently. The snap on guy comes by once in a while. Other times he parks his truck outside and waits for you to show up. Haven’t seen him much,

The Matco guy stops by every week and has yet to say hello or introduce himself. It’s either he’s making too much money and doesn’t care about another sale or he’s a terrible salesman and social dropout. Maybe it’s my resting ***** face that scares him away???

Then the MAC guy comes by really sheepishly not impressing me with anything he’s carrying in his little tote bag of tools.


Maybe if I need something I’ll just order it direct from Snap on or Matco. I’ve done it before in the past and the price is the same online as I would have got off the truck. For warranty, just ship them the broken one and they ship back a new one. Turn around time is relatively quick.

Just cut out the middleman all entirety. I’ve had some great tool dealers in the past, but lately this group isn’t getting it done. I’m not begging anyone to take my money for expensive overpriced tools, without them at least introducing themselves first. But after a month and a half that time has come and gone. He’s seen me working there banging on stuff and making noise. So this tool truck guy is dead to me. He doesn’t exist to me. It’s as easy as that.

Listen...
There are places that don't like tool guys bothering workers. They set a window of time they can be there.

Perhaps they've got addressed this and aren't allowed to take up THE SHOPS workers time..??!!!

Go get on the truck and start a relationship

 

[oilslick]

I like tools, I look past salesman personality faults to get on the trucks and see what’s new and cool. I also like seeing stuff I like, asking how much and pondering how I could justify spending my family’s money on it!

 

[redwrench60]

Your stall at the shop has probably been a revolving door of quitting and fired techs lately and the tool guys are tired of getting screwed. Maybe they want to see if you stay longer than a month before they trust you with a possible grand worth of weekly tool payments.

 

[Formula]

Why does purchasing tools from a person have to be a personal affair and them coming to you, begging for your patronage? Why not just walk up to the truck that you know is conviently right outside? Couple of the shops I've seen, the tool truck guys just drive up and people go out to the truck if they need something.

First of all, because they’re salesmen and it’s their job. Secondly, I’m in my stall working. I have no idea what time he decides to park his truck out in front of the building. Lastly, if I’m paying a premium for the best tools, I expect a little service to go along with it. I’ve had mostly all good tool truck guys my entire career.

 

[Formula]

You sound kind of needy. Online is probably the best route for you.
I have been happy with both MAC and Snap-On’s online shopping/customer service when ordering.

Yep, I need the lazy guy to get off his *** and out of his truck. Those tools don’t sell themselves.

 

[Fedwrench]

I kind of look at it another way. I view a tool truck as a mobile store. Truck pulls up, store's open, if you want or need something, you visit the store. I don't really want to be disturbed by a dealer toting & promoting nor, do I expect a dealer to beg me to buy their product or be my friend. The personal touch/interaction comes later after many purchases and warranty support.
The tools do sell themselves to certain point either through word of mouth, through what everyone in the shop uses and loves, to it's the only thing that works in a given situation.

 

[Formula]

Your stall at the shop has probably been a revolving door of quitting and fired techs lately and the tool guys are tired of getting screwed. Maybe they want to see if you stay longer than a month before they trust you with a possible grand worth of weekly tool payments.

Quite the opposite. I’m replacing a guy who retired after 34 years. I know a few of the guys working there. Most have all been there a long time.

I don’t run up a tool bill anymore. I have most everything I need. But, if I need something now, I pay for it in full. And most of the truck guys keep a credit card on file for those who do weekly payments and take it out automatically, or in case that tech decides to bail.

 

[Formula]

I kind of look at it another way. I view a tool truck as a mobile store. Truck pulls up, store's open, if you want or need something, you visit the store. I don't really want to be disturbed by a dealer toting & promoting nor, do I expect a dealer to beg me to buy their product or be my friend. The personal touch/interaction comes later after many purchases and warranty support.
The tools do sell themselves to certain point.

Again, they pull up at different times during the day. When you’re busy working, you have no idea if they’re outside, especially if you work in a larger dealer.

I’ve had plenty guys just stop by my stall and say hello, anything you need this week? Yes or no and take it easy. Simple 10 second conversation and move on with life or possibly make a decent sale that day.

 

[Uncle murph]

So I started at a new dealer recently. The snap on guy comes by once in a while. Other times he parks his truck outside and waits for you to show up. Haven’t seen him much,

The Matco guy stops by every week and has yet to say hello or introduce himself. It’s either he’s making too much money and doesn’t care about another sale or he’s a terrible salesman and social dropout. Maybe it’s my resting ***** face that scares him away???

Then the MAC guy comes by really sheepishly not impressing me with anything he’s carrying in his little tote bag of tools.


Maybe if I need something I’ll just order it direct from Snap on or Matco. I’ve done it before in the past and the price is the same online as I would have got off the truck. For warranty, just ship them the broken one and they ship back a new one. Turn around time is relatively quick.

Just cut out the middleman all entirety. I’ve had some great tool dealers in the past, but lately this group isn’t getting it done. I’m not begging anyone to take my money for expensive overpriced tools, without them at least introducing themselves first. But after a month and a half that time has come and gone. He’s seen me working there banging on stuff and making noise. So this tool truck guy is dead to me. He doesn’t exist to me. It’s as easy as that.

Sitting on your backside waiting for customers to come to you is a piss poor attitude for a salesman .The guy that knows his customers by name and drops off a few pens or magnets on occasion is always going to outsell the stiff.It’s not pushy,it’s good business.

 

[vssjim]

Even a shy tool dealer can at a minimum walk by and say hello here is this months sale flyer if there is anything I can help you with please let me know anytime. Any broken tools I can fix ? I think this is a minimum anybody can do as far as I'm concerned. I understand his complaint.

 

[American Locomotive]

Sitting on your backside waiting for customers to come to you is a piss poor attitude for a salesman .The guy that knows his customers by name and drops off a few pens or magnets on occasion is always going to outsell the stiff.It’s not pushy,it’s good business.

I look at the tool trucks as mobile dealers or stores, basically the same as a food truck. I don't sit around at festivals and events waiting for the food-truck cashier to personally come out and ask me if I want to eat. I go to the truck and pay their high prices because I'm hungry and want food.

If the Snap-On guy is out there, and I need tools - I'll go up to the truck and buy something. Now would I appreciate it if the dealer came up to me? Sure. But I'm not going to stand off to the side of the playground and stomp my feet like an insolent child because my crush hasn't come over and said hi yet.

Again, they pull up at different times during the day. When you’re busy working, you have no idea if they’re outside, especially if you work in a larger dealer.

But you seem to be aware enough of their presence to know they come every week and just sit in their truck?

 

[Dodge]

I agree with the OP. I also bet that the dealers don't even say "Thank You"!

 

[Handyandy23]

I think this comes down to different personalities have different preferences. I agree with those that say they'd prefer not to be bothered every week by all the salespeople. I don't want to be sold on stuff or be shown little gadgets while I'm trying to work. Same as I don't want door to door salespeople knocking on my door.

Other people seem to like to feel like they're "being taken care of" and think the "service" is part of the experience. If the tools are the same price online or on the truck, you're not paying extra for the service, so not sure what kind of extra effort should be required. They've already brought the store to your back door, which adds convenience. And if you willingly choose to buy online and wait longer for the tools, you're not saving anything, just spitefully putting the few dollars markup into the company's pockets rather than this guy driving around.

When I was in school I worked for a few years at a shop doing tires and whatever, and most of the tool truck guys did the same thing, pulled up out back and people that wanted stuff would go out and see him. I think maybe they would honk to let everyone know? Either way it wasn't some big secret, someone would say "so and so is here!" and a bunch of techs would wander out there, so it was pretty obvious they had arrived.

 

[gatewaysysop]

Sitting on your backside waiting for customers to come to you is a piss poor attitude for a salesman .The guy that knows his customers by name and drops off a few pens or magnets on occasion is always going to outsell the stiff.It’s not pushy,it’s good business.

And yet, some folks will defend this attitude all day long, including some dealers themselves. Those same dealers probably ***** about not making enough money and blame everyone but themselves for their lack of success in the sales business. Go figure.

I have found that just like everywhere else in life, there are people on the trucks that genuinely belong in another line of work. It's the same thing as rude, impersonal, unsmiling, *****-faced, inattentive servers at a restaurant that clearly missed their calling cleaning toilets instead of working with people. I've never understood why folks get into these industries if they dislike people, but it sure must have made sense to them at the time.

 

[reader2580]

I'm sure some shops don't want the tool dealers interrupting employees while they are working.

I've never understood why mechanics have to supply their own tools anyhow. It seems like the shops should have fully stocked toolboxes for each mechanic. I work in IT and we are not required to supply our own PCs and the like. I have purchased my own keyboard, but it was to replace the company supplied keyboard.

 

[Sumboodie]

Personally I like it when the tool guy announces his arrival, I'm busy and I don't have time to keep an eye out for when they show up.

He blast ice cream truck music when pulling into the yard? Haha

 

[Sumboodie]

I'm sure some shops don't want the tool dealers interrupting employees while they are working.

I've never understood why mechanics have to supply their own tools anyhow. It seems like the shops should have fully stocked toolboxes for each mechanic. I work in IT and we are not required to supply our own PCs and the like. I have purchased my own keyboard, but it was to replace the company supplied keyboard.

Not many career field aside for mechanic type work require tools.

Place I worked couldn't understand why they couldn't find mechanics.
It paid the same hourly wages as I made an equipment operator and they were expected to show up with $10k of tools.

 

[crewchief888]

I'm sure some shops don't want the tool dealers interrupting employees while they are working.

I've never understood why mechanics have to supply their own tools anyhow. It seems like the shops should have fully stocked toolboxes for each mechanic. I work in IT and we are not required to supply our own PCs and the like. I have purchased my own keyboard, but it was to replace the company supplied keyboard.

Every mechanic I've worked with over the past 40 years has a preference in hand and power tools. Dealership I work for supplies me with a cell phone, laptop, and misc specialty tools. I'm a field mechanic, my service truck, fuel and tolls, are company paid. Personally I use specific tools to do certain jobs with, another guy uses something else to do the same job. For the most part the corporate "person" that would be responsible for tool purchasing would have NO IDEA what it takes to pull a wrench

 

[Formula]

But you seem to be aware enough of their presence to know they come every week and just sit in their truck?

Well yeah. Guys will say, snap on didn't show up today? Someone will say they saw him parked outside while they were on a road test. Hard to catch him when he's there for 5 minutes and drives off. But I'm not running out there begging him to take my money. They need to work for it a little.

 

[Xcursion88]

I have no idea what time he decides to park his truck out in front of the building.

********.

These guys...unless something arises are like clockwork. It benefits them to be routine in collecting their weekly payment.

Our Mac guy is here on Thursday between 1&2 p.m.

Our SO guy is here on Friday between 2-2:30

If something is different or something unforeseen happens they text me asking if they can stop later or won't make it at all.


There are better tool truck reps than others but one common theme is they're routine.

A colleague of mine runs a Ford store.
He says to the truck people you can come inside during their lunch break. Waste as much time of theirs as they'll let you.
If you show up outside of their lunch break you can park your truck right there and you've got a 30 min stay because now you're wasting the store's time.

I say again. Get on truck, introduce yourself...start a convo.
I bet you'll learn real quick why nobody has been kissing your *** plus you can get the tool you need.

 

[FMB4]

So I started at a new dealer recently. The snap on guy comes by once in a while. Other times he parks his truck outside and waits for you to show up. Haven’t seen him much...

The tool trucks that I did business with always showed up at break times (10am, lunch, and 2pm). And they always parked outside while waiting for you, the customer, to show up. The same goes with food trucks.

 

[toolenthusiast]

It’s either he’s making too much money and doesn’t care about another sale or he’s a terrible salesman and social dropout

Maybe the tool guys are just tired of Negative Nancys who make up weird narratives in their head and get mad for no reason.

 

[toolenthusiast]

I've never understood why mechanics have to supply their own tools anyhow. It seems like the shops should have fully stocked toolboxes for each mechanic. I work in IT…

Hand tools are not like computers, and I don’t understand for the life of me why you would draw that comparison. An office worker can be issued 1 or 2 computers, preconfigured with all the software they could ever need to do their job. It’s relatively simple to track the assets, and even to remotely wipe a laptop if an employee goes AWOL. A mechanic needs literally hundreds or thousands of individual tools to do his job. If the company buys cheap ones, he could break his fingers. If the company buys fancy ones, he could develop sticky fingers.

 

[Lassen Forge]

At least you didn't walk up to his truck and instead of selling you tools, he starts the 20 questions of "where do you work", "What do you do there", "Why do you want those tools", "why should I believe you're a mechanic", etc. etc. etc... Our SO dealer showed up, I drove my work truck (same company) to his van, got out, climbed on board, and he was like "I don't know if I want to sell to you or not"... So sorry, but yeah, hasta la vista mofo - you don't want my money, you don't get my money...

Also used to be first week of school the tool truck guys would all show up at the school shops and hawk their wares, try to get them enrolled in their student discount programs, even offer them truck credit... now, they can't be bothered. Finally asked one, and he said "(deleted) students all buy **** from Harbor, I'm just wasting my time"...

I figure they're so well off they don't need or want new customers... so yeah, I buy direct. I'm buying tools, not paying homage to the holy wizard of oz or something...

 

[Xcursion88]

At least you didn't walk up to his truck and instead of selling you tools, he starts the 20 questions of "where do you work", "What do you do there", "Why do you want those tools", "why should I believe you're a mechanic", etc. etc. etc... Our SO dealer showed up, I drove my work truck (same company) to his van, got out, climbed on board, and he was like "I don't know if I want to sell to you or not"... So sorry, but yeah, hasta la vista mofo - you don't want my money, you don't get my money...

He said such because anyone who knows anything of the tool world knows these guys finance right on the truck. Unless it's a several thousand dollar box or scan tool they finance it to you themselves.
If you fall off the face of the earth he eats it.

Wanting to know a little bit about you before sending you off with a bunch of expensive tools on an IOU isn't being anything but cautiously sensible

 

[2ndGearRubber]

Listen...
There are places that don't like tool guys bothering workers. They set a window of time they can be there.

Perhaps they've got addressed this and aren't allowed to take up THE SHOPS workers time..??!!!

Go get on the truck and start a relationship

Yeah, the guys are likely not hourly, so that excuse doesnt work. They shop isnt paying those guys a penny unless they're producing.

Even if they were hourly, god forbid they use 15min to manage their subsidy of the shop who somehow is unable to provide tools and equipment. The shop can blow me if they're complaining about me looking up a special tool on amazon to buy out of my own pocket - tool truck is the same deal.

 

[shawhite]

At least you didn't walk up to his truck and instead of selling you tools, he starts the 20 questions of "where do you work", "What do you do there", "Why do you want those tools", "why should I believe you're a mechanic", etc. etc. etc... Our SO dealer showed up, I drove my work truck (same company) to his van, got out, climbed on board, and he was like "I don't know if I want to sell to you or not"... So sorry, but yeah, hasta la vista mofo - you don't want my money, you don't get my money...

Also used to be first week of school the tool truck guys would all show up at the school shops and hawk their wares, try to get them enrolled in their student discount programs, even offer them truck credit... now, they can't be bothered. Finally asked one, and he said "(deleted) students all buy **** from Harbor, I'm just wasting my time"...

I figure they're so well off they don't need or want new customers... so yeah, I buy direct. I'm buying tools, not paying homage to the holy wizard of oz or something...

Gotta call BS on this one. The snap-on man said he doesn’t know if he wants to sell to you. Yeah Ok. More like he didn’t know if he wanted to extend truck credit to you.


OP so you are upset the snap-on guy does not get out of his truck and track you down to introduce himself to you even though you have not spent a dollar on his truck?

 

[2ndGearRubber]

I also have resting ***** face, I understand OPs concern. I often am told I look pissed all the time.

If you want something, go and ask for it. I personally dont like much more than a "need anything today?", as im usually busy. Now if it's a big shop and you cant see the parking area easily, walking by to say Hi is probabaly a better way to run their business. I dont like show and tell in the shop, if I am interested I'll be out. If I am actually in a position where I owe somebody money, I'll be out. Just give me a flier.

In general, I find those who are not responsive to be poor dealers. It's literally part of what they're selling. If you want some things, ask for it. You know what they sell. If you dont want to buy their basic tools, dont need their specialty stuff, or dont want payments or service, theres no reason to do business with them. Plenty of other places to get tools.

 

[bob15]

So you blame them for not coming to you to introduce themselves to you. Have you thought about going to them and introducing yourself? It isn't a one-way street.

 

[Outnumbered76]

When you work in a shop that works multiple shifts over 24 hours, over 30 mechanics on the floor at one time per shift and in a building the size of football stadium, how the hell do you know when the tool guy is there. And we have had some lazy ones over the years, and then they complain the loudest about not wanting to stop there because the building is too big or guys aren't there to collect, etc.... I have been there done exactly what you are saying several times over the years.

2 snap on guys ago, this guy would walk into the build and hang out by the guys he really liked and then leave. I couldn't stand this guy. His prices were over list and he never had anything on his truck. "I have to order it" was his line, and when your a tool truck servicing a heavy equipment / truck / bus / auto shop with 100+mechanics you need to stock as much as you can and as big as you can. Some tool guys get it and some are lost.